06.01.11
Among 28 vitamin D supplements recently selected for independent testing, problems were found with eight products (29% of those reviewed), according to ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY. Vitamin D has become one of the most popular supplements in the U.S., with sales rising from $72 million in 2006 to $429 million in 2009, according to Nutrition Business Journal, Boulder, CO. It was the fourth most popular supplement in a ConsumerLab.com survey of its readers in 2010, used by 56% of respondents. In the recent tests, ConsumerLab.com evaluated vitamin D supplements as well as those containing calcium and/or vitamin K. Results were released in three separate Product Review reports.
The most common problem found by ConsumerLab.com with supplements containing vitamin D was the wrong amount of vitamins. A popular supplement for children listed 200 IU of vitamin D per two gummy bears, but actually contained 501 IU, 251% of the listed amount. A gummy product for adults listed 1000 IU of vitamin D, but contained only 317 IU, 32% of the listed amount. A liquid product listing 42 IU of vitamin D contained only 18 IU, 44% of the listed amount. A tablet listing 800 IU of vitamin D contained only 664 IU, 83% of the listed amount. And a vitamin D/vitamin K supplement contained its listed amount of vitamin D but provided only 36.8 mcg of its listed 50 mcg of vitamin K per capsule, 74% of the listed amount.
Two other products containing combinations of vitamins D and K and calcium were contaminated with lead, according to test results. Further, a vegan vitamin D product that passed laboratory tests was not approved by ConsumerLab.com because it listed potential benefits of vitamin D but failed to provide the required FDA disclaimer for such claims.
The most common problem found by ConsumerLab.com with supplements containing vitamin D was the wrong amount of vitamins. A popular supplement for children listed 200 IU of vitamin D per two gummy bears, but actually contained 501 IU, 251% of the listed amount. A gummy product for adults listed 1000 IU of vitamin D, but contained only 317 IU, 32% of the listed amount. A liquid product listing 42 IU of vitamin D contained only 18 IU, 44% of the listed amount. A tablet listing 800 IU of vitamin D contained only 664 IU, 83% of the listed amount. And a vitamin D/vitamin K supplement contained its listed amount of vitamin D but provided only 36.8 mcg of its listed 50 mcg of vitamin K per capsule, 74% of the listed amount.
Two other products containing combinations of vitamins D and K and calcium were contaminated with lead, according to test results. Further, a vegan vitamin D product that passed laboratory tests was not approved by ConsumerLab.com because it listed potential benefits of vitamin D but failed to provide the required FDA disclaimer for such claims.